Sport and Media Triad Analysis - Case Study Example

Michael Sam & college football and the NFL draft of The media is controlled by the three most important aspects of the trade. The media triad consist of the producers who bring the products to the consumers. The purpose of this paper is to examine the sport/media complex by trying on different sport media ‘hats’ within all aspects of the sport media triad. The paper will sample different Medias to come up with the best information that relates to the topic. Key words; sport media triad, producer’s, products, consumers Michael Sam & college football and the NFL draft Introduction There are growing numbers of athletes that are openly coming out to confess that they are gay. While this comes as a shock to most of their fans, the reality of them confessing that they are gay in male dominated fields is not that good. College football has won the hearts of many fans across the globe. Being a popular sport, it has not been spared by the news that some of the finest players in the sports are gay. This sometimes has been met by mixed reactions from the player’s fans and other stakeholders. It has also affected how players are drafted in the NFL for issues with other team players. Michael Sam became the first open gay player to be drafted to the NFL. While this came as good news to him and his boyfriend, many other players made it clear that he was not welcomed. After he received news of being drafted to the NFL, Sam kissed his boyfriend on national TV. What followed were harsh reactions from some of the leading players in the NFL. This heated up the drafting of players in the NFL, with some of the players paying heavily for the comments they made on social media. Many are not comfortable with the open display of affection by a gay player, because all the teammates are male. Confession by different players in different fields of their sexual orientations has brought out the debate of homosexuality, lesbianism and gay people in sports. Several studies have been carried out to ascertain if this phenomenon is true and how it affects the individual. In addition, the studies have tried to show how the three media triads are affected by this phenomenon, in terms of coverage and viewing. The fact that this is not a strange occurrence, we have to admit that this affects the normal running of things. The phenomenon affects the balance of things and brings about bias coverage and reporting. Methods To get accurate information, several Medias and journals were sampled. Upon completion, several journals and Medias that had the relevant information were chosen to highlight the topic better. A qualitative approach was used to select the material that best fitted the topic. No interviews were carried out since most of the participants for such a study cannot be reached or will not talk about their sexual orientations. A complete analysis of the topic was done with reference to the materials that were gathered from the research. Literature Analysis According to Kian and Anderson (2009), In spite of the fact that there are different purposes and conclusions of sorted out sporting cooperation for men in Western societies, a predictable finding is that game has served as a versatile social establishment primarily composed around the political venture of characterizing adequate types of manliness. In like manner, profoundly aggressive mens group activities have customarily been depicted as authoritative settings that are close completely narrow minded of homosexuality The degree of homophobia in the game world is amazing. Young men in Sports, learn early that to be gay, to be associated with being gay, or even to be not able to demonstrate ones hetero status is not satisfactory. From this journal, it is clear that this phenomenon affects the sporting industry in all dimensions. This is a case study of basketball player who openly confessed that he was gay. In spite of diminishing social and sporting homophobia, researchers have discovered raised rates of homophobia inside the NFL business and drafting. Operating at a profit society homosexuality is regularly seen as an issue for and about White men. However, this is changing as more black players are frequently admitting their sexual introductions candidly. According to Cavalier (2011), hegemonic manliness quite affects all men; a few studies have been fixated on surveying and depicting the encounters of gay men who have broken into the coliseum of games. The direct records and impression of gay men arranging life in antagonistic physical situations illuminates investigate on the obstruction between homosexuality and sport, and the novel and frequently unexpected position of gay men in games. A few studies have concentrated on the restrictive impact that homophobia in game has on investment rates of gay and androgynous men. A lot of people candidly gay men and other people who neglect to meet hegemonically manly standards find in expressions of the human experience or different situations in which a more extensive reach of masculinities are acknowledged. Essentially, it has been recommended that exceedingly closeted gay men are less averse to search out parts in heteromasculinized games settings as an approach to smother or make up for developing homosexuality. Ethnographic records of gay games groups perceive that the standard inspiration for joining "all-gay" or "gay-accommodating" game associations is the craving to play in an option game setting that is more comprehensive of differing qualities of personalities According to Anderson and McCormack (2010), black American male players are socially associated with cooperation in very aggressive group activities, in the same way as American football and ball, or they are connected with individual games that oblige quality and hazardousness, in the same way as sports, sprinting and boxing. These social pictures of quality, speed, and huskiness dangerously naturalize black mens capabilities, in this way helping the dis empowered status of numerous black men in American sport. This is on account of the undervalue of exertion, ability and determination in black sporting accomplishment. Dissimilar to the force connected with black mens physicality, support for gay male competitors is regularly connected with feminized landscapes like ice-skating, cheer leading and acrobatic; and other non-forceful games, for example, swimming, running and jumping. Therefore, although black men seek speedier times or harder hits, gay men are honoured focuses through a judges choice over the style of their structure. Inasmuch as black competitors are frequently depicted as brutal men in heterosexualized wearing spaces, gay players are feminized by their support. The bifurcation of black and gay personalities is reinforced by social understandings of mental models of gay person advancement, which appear to keep up that homosexuality is an issue for whites only. Freudian and post-Freudian speculations characterize male homosexuality as a result of an oppressive mother and a no attendant father figure. According to Brown (2005), the prevailing society has constantly hollowed the African American society against itself by constraining blacks to grasp one kind of black manliness, while dismissing an alternate. This has happened over and again all through history whether it was Washington vs. Dubois, King vs. Malcolm X, or Jackson vs. Farrakhan. For African Americans who were at that point oppressed politically, socially, and financially, it got risky to acknowledge black masculinities that the predominant society did not acknowledge. This depicts how highly blacks hold their culture. It will be very difficult to assume that these blacks can become gay, which is seen as a depreciation of their social standings. As time changes this theory is being disputed as more blacks are opening up and professing that they are gay. According to Cobb & Coleman (2007), the Medias are Controlling Images of Black Male Homosexuality heedlessly hypersexual and hyper masculine White "Stuart Bondek," whose unquenchable drive renders him uncouth in the work place. The foil works at a bigger level such that recognizable homosexuality turns into the methods for renormalizing heteronormativity. Carters sexuality is standardized so it does not hint the sort of inconvenience that might be seen through Stuarts practices, even as viewers are completely mindful of Carters sexuality. Accordingly, with a thwart, the vicinity of the picture generously proposes that Black male homosexuality is not so much a censorious practice insofar as it is legitimately overseen or firmly held and about undetectable. The beast like sexuality ascribed to straight Black men is not used on Carter in light of the fact that his (homo) sexuality is issue enough. In the meantime, developing Stuart as fiercely sexual does not debilitate his regularity on the grounds that he is both White and hetero. While TV is presently ready to conceptualize a Black sexuality that does not debilitate White ladies, delineations of Black straight personalities as often as possible include interpersonal issues, brutality, and devastation. Keeping in mind TV makes propels by delineating Black gay affection associations with profundity and closeness, there remains a level of disappointment in same-sex love connections determining enduring bliss, backing, and regularity as portrayed in hetero couplings. The products on TV are set to show that the blacks are not as dominant as thought before. It depicts that the tendency of gay men are more prone to black sports men. According to cyd (2014), the media has covered the story of gay pro athletes very wrong. The stories are pot laying that a black pro athlete does not perform as required and the society does not accept them as professionals. Americans say they are prepared for unashamedly gay players, as per a research led after Michael Sam turned into the first unabashedly gay player to be drafted by a NFL group. Anyway, the overview likewise discovered waiting uneasiness with gay competitors freely celebrating in a manner that straight players routinely do. As per the new survey, 60% of Americans said they would support of their most loved games group marking a candidly gay player, while 20% said they would dislike. Among NFL fans specifically, 65% said they would affirm and 21% said they would oppose (Emily, 2014). In 2012, the New York Times published an article that was to show if it is a responsibility for gay sports men to come out. However, the debate was on if it is an obligation or a decision that the person needs to make (Eric, 2012). According to Richard (2014), while the verbal confrontation played out on social networking, it was ESPNs airing of Sams passionate response to getting the call that took an officially authentic minute to an entire new level. Not just had the first unabashedly gay player simply been drafted, he commended the news by kissing his sweetheart and conveying no problem. This was another field for the system and was received by cruel criticism Pro games have persistently fallen behind whatever remains of pop culture concerning acknowledgement. Michael Sams turn to the NFL gives a gigantic open door to cross section gay players and the games world while shattering the insensible generalizations, which were inexhaustibly on presentation According to marc (2014), Players and mentors association have discussed Sams sexual introduction as a non-issue. The NFL is prepared for this, and Fisher does not anticipate any concerns with Sam managing issues from colleagues. This article shows that the many people are now accepting that it is okay to profess that you are gay and that sports professionals can be gay and still perform their duties without fear of being victimised. There are many videos that have been posted in the web (YouTube) that shows several reactions to the news about the signing. The producers of this news give them to the consumers in way to suggest their feelings Conclusion From the evidence collected it is very clear that there various views on how gay professionals should carry them. However, it is up to the individual to decide whether to come out to the open. From previous people who have done it, it has been witnessed that they are accepted in their fields with few or minimal oppositions. The Medias that have been sampled have given concrete proof on how news about gay professionals is covered. Some of the Medias have been quoted to having bias in their coverage of gay professionals. The drafting of Sam to the NFL has opened doors for other gay professionals to be drafted on the NFL and be judged on their talent and not sexual orientation. The drafting of Sam to the NFL shows that the NFL is open to all types of sexual orientations and there are no discriminations in the NFL. The way that TVs portray gay professionals influences a lot the attitudes that the community and fellow professionals take these professionals. The TVs portray that the African American race is not immune from being gay. This is because being gay was seen as a white’s man issue since time before. References Anderson, E., McCormack, M., (2010). Comparing the Gay Male Athlete: Patterns in American Oppression. The Journal of Men’s Studies,vol.18, No.2, Spring. 2010, 145- 158 Aily Rushbo (2014, May 17). RUSH: Media is Gonna Turn Michael Sam into An Activist. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSOkKkvQ3ys Brown, T. J. (2005). Allan Iverson as Americas Most Wanted: Black Masculinity as a Cultural Site of Struggle. Journal Of Intercultural Communication Research, 34(1/2), 65-87. Cavalier, E. S. Men at sport: Gay men’s experiences in the sport workplace. Journal of Homosexuality, 58, P626-646, 21p. Cobb, J., & Means Coleman, R. (2007). Two Snaps and a Twist: Controlling Images of Black Male Homosexuality on Television. Conference Papers – International Communication Association, 1. Cyd, Z. (2014). How did the media get the gay-pro-athlete story so desperately wrong? Retrieved from: http://www.outsports.com/2014/3/18/5522128/media-gay-athlete-jason-collins. Cyd, Z. (2013). Coming Out Kicking, Openly Gay Former College Kicker Tries For the NFL. Outsports. Retrieved from: http://www.outsports.com/2013/4/23/4253016/al David Williams (2014, February 11). GAY MEDIA: JANET MOCK AND MICHAEL SAM. Retrieved May 22, 2014 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27i9HKV1aI8. Doyel, G. (2014, May 25). Michael Sams career faces real danger: The Tim Tebow Effect. . Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://www.cbssports.com/general/writer/greggdoyel/ 24563521/michael-sams-career-faces-real-danger-the-tim-tebow-effect Emily, S. (2014). Americans Say Yes To Gay Athletes, Until They Kiss. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/15/gay-athletes-poll_n_5325963.html. Eric, A. (2012, July 2). For Gay Athletes, a Harsh Spotlight. The New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/07/02/do-gay celebrities-have-an-obligation-to-come-out/for-gay-athletes-a-harsh-spotlight. Gregorian, V. (2014, May 16). Michael Sam’s story a scripted package?. . Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://www.kansascity.com/2014/05/15/5026963/public-relations-machinemuddies.html. JunkNews (2014, May 10). Michael Sam Kiss: St. Louis rams 2014 Drafted Frist Ipenly Gay Football Player Michael Sam Kiss. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKwsqAERmic. Kian, E. M., & Anderson, E. (2009). John Amaechi: Changing the Way Sport Reporters Examine Gay Athletes. Journal Of Homosexuality, 56(7), 799-818. Levy, D. (2014). Jason Collins, Michael Sam and the Medias Role in the Hype Around Gay Players. Retrieved from: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1973194-jason-collins-michael-sam-media-making-the-moment-as-big-as-we-can Legwold, J. (2014, February 23). Michael Sam ready for NFL challenge. . Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10502255/michael-sam-addressesmedia-nfl-scouting-combine. Levy, D. (2014, February 25). Jason Collins, Michael Sam and the Medias Role in the Hype Around Gay Players. . Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1973194-jason-collins-michael-sam-media-making-the-momentas-big-as-we-can Marc, S. (2014). Michael Sam drafted by St. Louis Rams at No. 249. Retrieved from: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000349371/article/michael-sam-draftedby- st-louis-rams-at-no-249. Rajssman, B. (2014). NFL draft: Michael Sams televised kiss only the start of media circus surrounding 7 newest St. Louis Rams player. Retrieved from: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/raiss Man-sam-kiss-heard-world-espn-article-1.1789814 Richard, M, J. (2014). Three Days, Seven Rounds, One Kiss and a Piece of Cake. Retrieved from:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richardjohn-mensing-jr/one-kissand- a-piece-of-cake_b_5303848.html. SPORTS (2014, February 19). Press Party: Drone Journalism and the media’s love with Michael Sam. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aQEICdHRc8. TODAY (2014, May 12). Costas: Michael Sam “will be judged on his play”. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://www.today.com/video/today/55157190#55234174. VaughnFryWillDie (2014, February 14). Michael Sam and the Pro-Gay Media Push. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys-P_ov9Cgs. Read More